Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1884 — NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

NEWS CONDENSED.

Concise Record of the Week. DOINGS OF CONGRESS. A resolution was offered in the Senate on the Bth Inst- by Hr. Hale, and adopted, calling on the Secretary of the Navy for a statement of the original cost of the vessels on the naval register. and the amount expended in repairs. Hr. Van Wyck presented a resolution forbiddSg the Secretary of tbe Interior to issue land patents to the New Orleans and Pacific road until Congress has determined the questions involved in the claims of tbe company. In response to a request of tbe Senate the Secretary of the Treasury submitted to that body official figures concerning tbe national debt. Tbe highwater mark was reached Aug. 81, 1865, w hen the nation owed $2,756,431,574 June 30, 1883, this colossal burden had been reduced to $1,551,094,207. The rednotion. including Interest and less cash in the Treasury, has amounted to Mr. Hnnt introduced a joint resolution for the appropriation of $1,000,000 to continue work on the Mississippi river improvements. Bills were introduced to erect public buildings at El Paso and Houston, Tex., and La Crosse, Wls.; to bridge the Mississippi at Memphis; to admit Washington Territory as a State; to regulate the sale and manufacture of liquors in the Territories, and to increase tbe pension of the widow of General Frank P. Blair. Mr. Beach offered a constitutional amendment providing for uniform laws on the subject of marriage and divoroe. The President submitted a message recommending an appropriation of $1,000,000 to continue the work of improving the Mississlpi river below Cairo. The President disc sent In a message on the Illinois canals. He recites the action of the Illinois General Assembly offering the Illinois and Miohigan canal to the United States Government and the recent action of Congress in directing a survey for the Hennepin canal, and commends the whole subject to the present National Legislature as a matter worthy of Its early consideration. Mit. Plumb presented a petition in the Senate, on the 9th Inst., from 200,090 veterans for a soldiers' home in Kansas. Mr. Anthony offered a resolution that the ‘committee on foreign relatlrns report on the expediency of legislation in retaliate n for the exclusion of American meats from foreign countries. Mr. Logan presented a petition for pensions for ex-prisoners of war. A resolution was adopted that the Attorney General furnish copies of reports on abuses •in the Federal courts in the Southern States. A bill was parsed to pay $6,000 to the parents of Lieut. Schwatka for land taken fora military reservation in 1850. In the House, Mr. Hasson introduced a resolution, which was nnanimou ly adopted, instructing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to ascertain whether the “ favored nation " clause in our treaties has been violated by.. Germany, France, or any other foreign Powers, and if so to report what may be deemed necessary in the way of retaliatory lcgisl ition. A bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter was reported by the Military committee. A message from the President was received, submitting the report of the Mississippi River commission, and after a long debate the document was referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors. Mr. Bagley introduced a bin to appropriate $130,C00 toward the expense of placing the statue of Liberty In the harbor of New York. The House passed a reeolut'on of sorrow at the death of Edward Lasker, tbe German statesman. Mr Dawes introduced a bill in the Senate, on the 10th Inst., providing ior the establishment of a postal telegraph system by the Government. A communication was received from the Seoretary of the Interior, announcing depredations in the Yellowstone park. Mr. Plumb presented a petition with 1,500 signatures, asking that Oklahoma be opened to settlement. Four hills were introduced In relation to pensions and to soldiers. It was resolved to reqttfflrtne ocoveJmj-Y oitnc urtenor to suspend the issue of land patents to tbe New Orleans and Pacific Railroad company until Congress shall determine the claims of the corporation. A resolution by Mr. Voorhees was adopted directing the Secretary of Wax to inform the Senate of the amount of money required to equalize (he bounties of those who served in the late war. Mr. Cullom introduced a bill for the construction of the Illinois and Mississippi canal. In the House of Representatives, the oath was administered to Mr. Clardv, of Missouri. Mr. Ros-crans introduced a bill for the reliefof Col. Thomas Worthington, of Ohio. A resol Otfo i was offered callin r on the Secretary of State for information as to the irregular practices in the importation of goods and what legislation is necessary. A Joint resolution lor the immediate appropriation of $1,000,000 for. Mississippi river imrrovements was referred A resolution was adopted calling on th? Secretary of the Treasury to give his reasons for discontinuing the issue of silver certificates. The House adjourned until the 14th. A bill appropriating $1,000,000 to continue Improvements on the Mississippi river passed the Senate on the,l2th inst. Mr. Call introduced a measure to create a university of medicine at Washington, and setting aside $1,000,000 as a perpetual endowment. Mr. Edmunds handed in a bill for the relief of the •urvivors of he Jeannette expedition, and Mr. Call introduced one for the establishment of savings b.nks at all Presidential postofflees. Mr. Cullom spoke at length in regard to his bill to reo ganize the legislative power of Utah by means of a Governor and council of nine. After an executive session the Senate adjourned to Monday.